Floorp is a

free and open-source Free and open-source software (FOSS) is software available under a Software license, license that grants users the right to use, modify, and distribute the software modified or not to everyone free of charge. FOSS is an inclusive umbrella term ...

web browser A web browser, often shortened to browser, is an application for accessing websites. When a user requests a web page from a particular website, the browser retrieves its files from a web server and then displays the page on the user's scr ...

based on

Firefox Mozilla Firefox, or simply Firefox, is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation. It uses the Gecko rendering engine to display web pages, which implements curr ...

Features

Floorp was based on Chromium in the past, but due to some technical issues, it has been based on Firefox since version 7.0.0. It is based on the Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release), the most stable and tested Firefox, usually deployed in production and corporate environments, that value stability (e.g.: the long time standing stability Linux distributions, like Debian).

Special features

* Users can display a QR code for the URL of the current web page. *

Firefox Sync Firefox Sync, originally branded Mozilla Weave, is a browser synchronization feature for Firefox web browsers. It allows users to partially synchronize bookmarks, browsing history, preferences, passwords, filled forms, add-ons, and the last 25 o ...

is supported, and can share tabs across devices. It is cross-compatible with most other Firefox derivatives. * Support for

progressive web app A progressive web application (PWA), or progressive web app, is a type of web app that can be installed on a device as a standalone application software, application. PWAs are installed using the offline cache of the device's web browser. PWAs w ...

s (PWAs) is included.

UI and customization

Floorp is based on Mozilla Firefox, adding new features including vertical tabs, multi-functional sidebars, and support for custom CSS. It also includes the ability to display, hide, change the display position, optimize vertical tabs, transfer toolbars to the title bar, and hide the sidebar until the mouse hovers over it. In addition, it supports very detailed customization, such as switching or hiding the bookmark label, moving toolbars to unconventional locations, and having the tab bar and URL bar on the same line. The default theme is "Proton UI Design," but it can be changed to other themes, including operating system-specific themes. Floorp also includes a mode called "split view," which allows users to view multiple tabs at once without opening a separate window.

Privacy

Floorp includes several privacy features, including fingerprinting protection, and the ability to disable features such as

WebGL WebGL (short for Web Graphics Library) is a JavaScript Application programming interface, API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics within any compatible web browser without the use of plug-in (computing), plug-ins. WebGL is fully integra ...

and

WebRTC WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a free and open-source project providing web browsers and mobile applications with real-time communication (RTC) via application programming interfaces (APIs). It allows audio and video communication and ...

. It also disables telemetry from

Mozilla Mozilla is a free software community founded in 1998 by members of Netscape. The Mozilla community uses, develops, publishes and supports Mozilla products, thereby promoting free software and open standards. The community is supported institution ...

, while still including Firefox's anti-tracking features. Floorp also includes "share mode," which allows users to share their screens while hiding the bookmark bar and sidebar.

Version history

The first version of Floorp was released on August 22, 2021 and was based on Chromium. It was exclusively for developers. The first public version, 7.0.0, released on September 19, now based on Firefox and with some new features. Version 8.2.3, released on January 2, 2022, was the first to support English. Support for themes with custom CSS was added in version 8.7.2, released on April 21, 2022. With version 10.0.0, Floorp began using Firefox ESR as a base rather than the rapid release version. Version 11.0.0, released on July 29, 2023, was another major update, adding several customization-related features and reworking several existing features. Version 12.0.0 is an upcoming major release that plans to add and change many features.

Reception

Technology magazine Mr.PC praised the browser for being convenient and easy to use, with useful extensions included by default. Floorp has been criticized for not being friendly to beginners, a lack of

DRM DRM may refer to: Government, military and politics * Defense reform movement, U.S. campaign inspired by Col. John Boyd * Democratic Republic of Madagascar, a former socialist state (1975–1992) on Madagascar * Direction du renseignement militair ...

support on certain websites, and the non-existence of a mobile version.

Notes

References

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